, 1887-02-10


treaty of 1918 permits and stipulates
for such legislation. That we deny,
and reply that such legislation is re-
arrangements made in 1880 and to
that repeal we are entitled to respond
by similar repeal of our own law and
by refusal hereafter, and while debate
or negotiation goes on, to confer hos
pitality or any privileges VIII, tsoevcr
in our ports on Canadian vessels or
boats of any sort.
VIOLATION OF Comfy
may be looked upon as an unfriendly
act, but not cause for Just war. Eng
land may Judge for herself of the ma.
ture and extent of the comfy and
courtesy size will show to us. In the
present case we do mo- propose retalia-
ton; we simply respond. We, too,
suspend comfy and hospitality, and
now comes the question, What
shall be the character and limi-
tation of the responseH Shall we
only exclude Canadian fisheries, such
fish and all Canadian vessels, or both
of them and all merchandise coming
from Canada by any sort of vehicle,
including the vehicle? Under what
condition can negotiations go on with
the least injury to ourselves and our
dignity and self-respect? cannot
believe that the government at Lon
don will persist in its present course
unless inspired for some occult reason
by the purpose OF breaking friendly re.
lations with ourselves or unless under
I, ,p,ll n,,I nj thn nf ite n.ln-
ny.
The secretary then considers the
question whether or not article 20
of the Alabama treaty was left stand
ing by act of congress of June 2Sth,
1883, and the president proclama-
ton there under.
RIGHTS OF AMERICAN VESSELS.
If," he concludes, "the stipulatiors
of this article are not binding on
Great Britain then it Is indisputable
that our vessels are entitled by treaty
to enter fish Us merchandise at the
custom house of any Canadian port
For conveyance in bond to the United
States, of necessity the vessel contain
ing fish is entitled to enter n port in
order to enter merchandise at the
proper custom house."
In considering the bills submitted
to him Secretary Manning says that
he is extremely reluctant to discuss
any bill which after debate has been
adopted in the senate by vote almost
unanimous, and that he does only
from IL point of view of the need of the
treasury department to which will be
committed the execution of the procla-
nation issued by the president under
the proposed measure if it should be-
come a law. "Ii," he says, "the senate
bill shall become n law and the presi-
dent shall issue his proclamation
hereunder, besides putting an end to
the transit traffic its effect will be to
exclude from importation Canadian
free goods, such as certain kinds of
fish, lumber, animals, ETC., to the
amount OF about ~ ,5OO,OO annually,
and also Of
REDUCING THE REVENUE
by preventing the importation of Ca
madam dutiable products, such as
lumber, bread stuffs, fish. etc, in an
nual value say $32 900, ,O0O. To the extent
OF about 100000, which will be the
probable duties collectable on such
goods during the present fiscal year
If the present system OF interest shall
continue. He recommends that
there be no unnecessary ambiguity in
the law and ii locomotive railway
cars are to be excluded under any cir
cumstances congress should say so in
explicit terms aud all vehicles contain
ing or carrying merchandise should
be distinctly excluded, if that be the
will of congress. In conclusion Mr..
Manning says at is much to be re-
gretted that the medieval tariff laws
like that cruel legacy OF the war which
still encumbers the statute books of
the United States or medival non-in-
tcrcoursc policy, like that OF the do
minion of Canada, approved by the
queen in council on the threshold OF
her maiesty's jubilee year, should be II
divided disgrace of our common civ
lization."
a DRAFT OF \ BILL.
The following are the material
points in the draft of the bill sub
mitted by the secretary. The bill is
entitled an act to enable the president
to defend and protect the rights and
privileges OF vessels of the United
States. The preamble sets forth the
cause for complaint and necessity for
proposed legislation, and the bill goes
on to provide whenever the president
shall be satisfied that vessels of the
United States are by British or Cana
dian authority denied any rights or
privileges to which they are entitled,
he shall Mt his discretion lawfully
close by predemption all ports OF
of tRS United States against all
vessels owned by subjects of
Her Brittanic Majesty except such as
are in distress. Vessels violating this
provision shall be seized and forfeited.
Persons violating any proclamation
made in pursuance of this act shall be
doapaad sx,,iltx of n rnisdepn on nor anl